Improvement in mail-bag- fasteners



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Lam.; Pfam No. 95,818, amd 00am 12, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAG- FASTENERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.r

-Avv# To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, R. O. LOWREY, of Salem, in the county of Washington, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Fastenings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accpmpanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the artl to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.-

y My invention relates to devices for fastening mailbags, and consists in connecting rigidly a series of peculiarly-constructed studs to a series of metallic plates attached to one side of the mouth of the bag, and in passing the heads of these studs through holes in a corresponding series of metallic plates, attached to the opposite side, and also through slotsV in a series of linked sliding bolts, so arranged asto fasten or release the heads of these studs, and to be locked in place by any suitable locking-device.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side plan view;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line :t o; of Iig. 1; and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of -one of the slides, and ofthe head of one of the studs.

As is well known, the ordinary fastening-devices of mail-bags consist of a series of metallic staples, attached toene side of the mouth ofthe bag, and which enter and pass through a series of slot-s in the opposite side, and that through these staples is passed and secured a strap, connected to the bag for that purpose.

To open and close bags thus secured, requires considerable time, and often delays the transportation of the mail, especially on routes where they are carried by stage, and are left at way-stations to be examined.

The object of my invention is to produce a fastening-device that will allow the bag to be opened, and closed, and secured with little or no delay.

-To accomplish this result, I trmly secure to one side of the mouth of the bag a series of metallic plates, A, and to its opposite side an equal number'of metallic plates B, as clearly shown in lig. 2. These plates are all of the same size, and are placed immediately opposite each other, as shown in the same figure.

To each of the plates A, I connect rigidly a stud, I), bypassing the end of its steni or shank a through the plate, and riveting it there, or by any other suitable means, as shown in g. 3.

Each of the plates B, I construct with a hole, d, in its centre, of 'suflicient size to allow the head of the stud I) to pass easily through it, as shown in said iig;

3, and provide its outer face with a pair of guide-ways, c, having lips or flanges t'.

These guide-ways are arranged on eachside of the hole d,'and so as to be parallel with each other and the sides of the plates, as clearly shown in figs. 1 and 3.

The head of the stud I), I make round on top, but conical on its under side, and the length of its stem or shank I make to snit the thickness of the plates A and B, and the intervening,thickness of the ybag and of any packing F, so that when the head of the stud is passed through the plate B, its base may be on a line wit-h the face of the plate, as shown in said fr. 3.

l:Between the guide-ways c, and under the anges or lips e, of each of the plates B, I insert a locking-bolt, E, arranged so vas to slide easily between the guideways. These bolts are of the same length as the plates, and are connected by a wire link, j', as shown in` figs. 1 and 2, or in any other suitable manner, and are made with oblong tapering slots G, shaped as clearly shown in iig. l.

, The head of these slots is round, and of the requisite size to allow the head of the studs I) to pass easily through, and is near one end of the bolt.

The foot of these slots is also round, and is of the same size with the neck of the studs l).

rIhe length of the slot is such that when the ends of the bolt are flush with the ends of the plate, the lower end of the slot will be immediately over the hole in the plate.

The taper of the slot is gradual throughout its length. i

To the last bolt on each end, I attach a strap, J. for convenience in sliding the bolts E when desired.

When the parts arethus constructedand arranged, it will be seen that when the larger ends of theslots Gr are immediately over the openings (l in the plates B, and the heads of the studs, the latter can be passed through the openings d and slots G, and that then, by drawing on one of the straps J', the bolts E will be moved so that their `slots will under the heads of the studs, and as the slots are tapering, and

the under side of the heads of the studs conical, the

latter will be forcibly raised, and thus bind the sides ofthe mouth of the bag closely together.

In order to lock these bolts in this position, l use a lock, H, as shown in fig. 2, so constructed as to be fastened to 011e of the studs D, and to fit snugly between the shoulders g of the hinge, at each end of the sliding bolts E.

This loc-k H consists of a box-frame, K, with projections on its under side, so as to allow them to fit against the shoulders g, and also tohold the bottom of the lock away from the guide-ways c, as clearly shown in fig. 2.

Wit-hin the frame K is located a bolt, L, with two catches h and i, arranged as shown in the same figure, so' that the former may catch into a notch, j, in the head of the stud D, for that purpose, and the latter be operated against by the tongue of a key, M.

The bottom of the frame has an opening, through which the head of the stud passes.

The bolt L of this lock is held forward by a spiral spring, m, and consists of a frame extending around the inside of the box-frame of the lock, with two cross-pieces, on which are the catches h and i, and the stem, about which the spiral spring is placed.

Ou the top of the lock are springs o, under which cards may be placed, with the name of the post oflice to which the bag is to be sent printed thereon.

This lock is applied, after the bolts E are drawn into the proper position for fastening the mouth of the bag, by simply passing the head of the stud through the opening in its under side.

As the round or conicalhead strikes against the slanting side of the catch h, the bolt L is driven back, until the end of the catch h slips into the notch j, when the holt E is locked in position.

In order to lock the bag securely, I place twov of these locks upon it, one near each end.

To open the bag when thus fastened, I insert akey,

M, into the lock, with a tongue having its upper side made so as to correspond with the end of the catch t', and turn it until it comes immediately under the oasis a single move of the bolts E fastens them, when the locks canhe attached by simply pressing themv upon the studs for which they are designed.

It is obvious, that instead of having the under sidel of the heads ofthe studs conical, the sides of the slots G may be provided with au incline, t', as shown in fig. 4, which will serve the purpose of pressing the sides of the mouth of the bag closely together.

It is also obvious that it will only be necessary .to provide the heads of the studs, to which the locks are applied,with catches.

By this construction and arrangement of devices I can quickly and tightly close the mail-bag, andsecurely lock it. As the ends of the lock bear against the shoulders g, it will be seen that the stud cannot be moved, and that the bolt E, through which it passes, is securely locked with it.

Having'thus described my invention,

What I claim, is-

1. A mail-bag fastening, consisting of the plates Al forth.

R. O. LOWREY. Witnesses:

H. B. MUNN, PHIL. T. DODGE: 

